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Bora, an 18-year-old, leaves his village to work on the construction sites of Diamond Island, a project for an ultra-modern paradise for the rich and a symbol of tomorrow’s Cambodia. He befriends his fellow workers and finds his elder brother, the charismatic Solei, who went missing five years earlier. Solei introduces him into an exciting world, that of an urban and wealthy youth, its girls, nights and illusions.
The electronic music of Diamond Island stood out for me as I entered the dull life of Bora, its protagonist, who moves to Phnom Penh in search of a better livelihood. The story then narrates his coming-of-age as he mingles with his long lost brother and his charismatic life and friends in the Cambodian city that is characterized by late night parties and concerts, riding and driving fancy vehicles, romance, and everything that he was not accustomed to when he was in his native, a village. It's a fine watch, especially when you observe the Cambodian culture, but in terms of international cinema standards, I don't see anything extraordinary here. The actors are all debutants, which is evident in their performances. But the dialogues, cinematography, and the score make up for it. **Grade C+**. (Watched at the 2020 IIHS UrbanLens Film Festival.)
December 28, 2016
The electronic music of Diamond Island stood out for me as I entered the dull life of Bora, its protagonist, who moves to Phnom Penh in search of a better livelihood. The story then narrates his coming-of-age as he mingles with his long lost brother and his charismatic life and friends in the Cambodian city that is characterized by late night parties and concerts, riding and driving fancy vehicles, romance, and everything that he was not accustomed to when he was in his native, a village. It's a fine watch, especially when you observe the Cambodian culture, but in terms of international cinema standards, I don't see anything extraordinary here. The actors are all debutants, which is evident in their performances. But the dialogues, cinematography, and the score make up for it. **Grade C+**. (Watched at the 2020 IIHS UrbanLens Film Festival.)
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